Neanderthal

iTrader: (6)

I'm picking up my Solid Red (flame red?) Blob Eye on Saturday. Obviously it'll have been polished by the garage but only with their cheap stuff.
Is solid paint less durable than metalic?
Whats the best way to make sure the paint stands the test of time?.
I've got some Swissol stuff left over from when I owned a *shudder* black car.
I live in a hard water area and don't have access to a hose (banned anyway though!).
I've read the fantastic tips from the polished bliss web site but still unsure what the best way of protecting my new pride and joy.

Matt

Rich @ PB

iTrader: (3)

Hi Matt,

virtually all modern paint is protected by an uppermost clear coat, so there is no difference between solid and metallic paints in terms of durability. If it's a brand new car, all you need to do is protect it regularly, and then in about 6-12 months time give it it's first clay and polish. If it's second hand, then you might want to read the guides on my site and then evaluate the state of the paint - it may need claying and polishing straight away, before any new layer of protection is added.

On swirl free solid red paint, there are two product combinations that give stunning results with little effort and good long term protection. The first is Clearkote Red Moose Glaze topped with Clearkote Carnuba Moose Wax. This gives a rich, wet look and these products are currently on sale (just a few left, not doing them in the future due to supply chain issues, but they will continue to be available in the UK). The second is the new Blackfire range - the Gloss Enhancing Polish topped with Wet Diamond will give a rich, wet look with amazing reflections, and very good durability. If your paint has swirls or other defects, you will need a stronger polish, just post up if this turns out to be the case and I'll make a couple of suggestions, depending on how severe the defects are.

The hosepipe ban is going to be a pain for a lot of people. You have two options: (i) use a waterless wash every day or two throughout the period of the ban (it takes 10-15 mins to fo the car properly, you need a good stock of plush towels, and only tackle light accumulations of dirt) or (ii) use a large watering can in place of the hose and wash normally (this is slow going, but wet washing is much better for the paint than waterless washing on a regular basis). The key thing is a good shampoo with a high degree of lubricity - the one I recommend above others is Poorboy's Slick n Suds.

Other than the above, just try to adopt good practices - always wash with a lambswool mitt, use the two bucket method, always dry off well using a good quality drying towel, etc, etc. Again, read the guides on my site for a fairly comprehensive overview of techniques and methods.

Neanderthal

iTrader: (6)

Thanks for the tips PB, it's a second hand car (53 plate).

I need another bucket and one of those mitts then (plus the microfibre mitt for the wheels)